Of course they did. RSM:
[…] yes, Santorum promised “vigorous” enforcement to shut down operators who are profiting from commerce in illegal obscenity, and you may agree or disagree with that. But this isn’t an issue that Santorum raised during a stump speech yesterday or that is the subject of his newest campaign ad.
THAT STATEMENT HAS BEEN ON SANTORUM’S WEB SITE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, PERHAPS FOR MONTHS.
If you didn’t realize that when you read the Daily Caller article — if you mistakenly believed that Santorum had suddenly decided to raise this subject during his campaign — ask yourself why you didn’t realize it.
Do you feel you have been misled?
Exactly why the Daily Caller saw fit to assign its associate editor to write a 700-word “news” article, soliciting opinions from Eugene Volokh and Jonathan Turley, I don’t know. Why this cheap political “gotcha” hit-job deserved headline treatment at the Drudge Report, I don’t know.
— allow me to interject here: Stacy really does know; he’s just going for rhetorical effect.
The truth is, many on the putative “right” fear religion — and they’d rather take a Romney mandate in the ass than feel scolded for liking to beat off to Japanese anime by a guy who actually believes in all that Jesusy shit.
And they’ve made it clear that, where their “conservativism” is concerned, they’re more comfortable backing a guy who supported stimulus, TARP, an individual mandate, state-run healthcare, cap-and-trade, a bureaucratic attack on religious liberty, and federal minimum wage laws tied to inflation, than they are being tut-tutted about their own kink.
Back to Stacy, though:
But for intelligent people who call themselves “conservative” to fall for such a dishonest media stunt as this is ridiculous.
[…]
Thanks to a sharp-eyed commenter who found this Jan. 9 news release from Morality in Media:
Three of the leading GOP 2012 Presidential candidates have made statements committing to enforce existing federal obscenity laws if they are elected, while the current administration still refuses to enforce federal obscenity laws prohibiting distribution of hardcore pornography, according to Morality in Media.
Morality In Media launched efforts in October 2011 to contact the 2012 presidential candidates, including President Obama, to obtain their respective views on the enforcement of obscenity laws. Thousands of individuals sent emails, made calls and even spoke to the candidates in person urging them to respond to the survey. As a result of these efforts, the following candidates responded:* Former Senator Rick Santorum in a written statement:
“Federal obscenity laws should be vigorously enforced. If elected President, I will appoint an Attorney General who will do so.”
* Former Governor Mitt Romney in a written statement:
“(I)t is imperative that we cultivate the promotion of fundamental family values. This can be accomplished with increased parental involvement and enhanced supervision of our children. It includes strict enforcement of our nation’s obscenity laws, as well as the promotion of parental software controls that guard our children from Internet pornography.”
* Former Speaker Newt Gingrich in a face-to-face meeting:
When MIM’s Executive Director Dawn Hawkins asked former Speaker Gingrich if he will enforce existing laws that make distribution of hard-core adult pornography illegal, he responded: “Yes, I will appoint an Attorney General who will enforce these laws.”OK, good: That was on JANUARY 9th, which means that the Daily Caller has had more than two months to write the story about how Mitt Romney wants “strict enforcement” of federal obscenity laws.
But they didn’t write that story and send it to Drudge, did they?
You miss the point, Stacy: the problem is not that the candidates have all said the same thing. The problem is that many “conservatives” fear Rick Santorum actually means it.
Wink wink nudge nudge shouldn’t just be for Democrat candidates going for “pragmatic centrism,” you know. And besides: to win the GOP base over, oftentimes our betters are going to have to pretend to things that puts the bitterclingers at ease…
I put a chunk of this in a comment over at Althouse’s; let the fur fly.
OK, good: That was on JANUARY 9th, which means that the Daily Caller has had more than two months to write the story about how Mitt Romney wants “strict enforcement” of federal obscenity laws.
The Daily Caller is severely devoted to the truth.
Another in the continuing series “Campaign 2012: Moments of Clarity.”
Many, many self-described “conservatives” fervently hope their champion is a good liar. They expect and need him to make phony lip service to the disposable members of the Will-to-Power Coalition, and are baffled to incoherence by someone who means it.
If Romney says it, it’s moderate and electable. But if anyone else says it, it’s icky and Godbothering and unsaleable. I’ll bet you $10,000 on that.
[…] in discerning such possible implications of Dr. Shackleford’s argument. I’ll have to consult Jeff Goldstein and see if “intentionalism” has any insights on this problem. Or maybe Da Tech Guy is onto something here, despite his being just another […]
A coming source of amusement, perhaps a couple of months from now: The contortionist act the Republican nominee will have to perform on gay marriage. Given past positions, just how limber is Romney? Santorum or Newt? Because the MFM will make sure they have to manage that knot. Of course, Obama will get a pass, because shut up.
They handle it this way, George: “my position is the same as the President’s — though we differ inasmuch as I respect the will of the people and will instruct my Justice Department to enforce law, including those laws signed by Bill Clinton.”
If the GOP were for real, this is the sort of thing we’d expect to hear. The fact that such responses are so obvious, so effective, and yet so rare tells me everything I need to know about the true nature of “our team.”
Some people are getting the executive and the legislative branch functions all mixed up, again. If Congress doesn’t want to outlaw porn, then porn will not be outlawed.
FINIS
Because of our current imperial presidency, people assume that Santorum is also running for emperor.
It turns out he’s just running for president, so no worries.
Squid – thanks for the help over at Althouse’s, by the way. Sometimes, I think I’m in the wilderness on most blogsites. One guy even said that I was for Obama.
The idiocy, it burns.
No worries, Callahan. I just wanted them to be reminded of their simple-mindedness by a fresh voice. If there’s anything I hate more than a cretinous troll, it’s a cretinous troll who talks down to me. Like I’m the slow one…
Jeff,
I’d suggest sending this info to Capt. Ed (he has endorsed Santorum) but I’m afraid opponents would just find a transcript from an Old Testament Church service Santorum attended and use that to suggest that he believes women that don’t toe the line should be turned into salt.
To get the tag “illegal” porn must be pretty disgusting. Are there really any normal people who want to watch torture, gang rape, snuff films, etc.?
Oh, forgot kiddie porn.
Danger, Romney will probably find three or four anonymous women that saw Santorum reading pornographic materials in church.
Santorum may explain the Song of Solomon is a chapter in the Bible, but who could really trust him after accusations like that?
Ask that bastard Carlson to interview Mike Tyson, for to interject the ‘wombshifter’ POV.
“The problem is that many “conservatives” fear Rick Santorum actually means it.”
Well, sure. Shall we explore WHY they have that fear? Couldn’t be because everyone keeps barfing the “Santorum is a whacko religious nutjob” story whenever they need to fill some space, is it?
This is like running story after story about how customers fear their new Pontiac Sleddog is going to auto-combust in their garage late at night, to the point where all Sleddog owners DO fear their car is going to explode into flames (even though there have been NO Sleddog fires at all) and then defending your libel with “but, look, the Sleddoggers ARE upset.”
The prophecy designed to be self-fulfilling is a propaganda weapon of long standing indeed.
Our friend over at Daily Pundit didn’t appreciate me pointing this out either; just call me “closet religious fascist”….
Which is ironic, because I’m not the one endorsing putting religious tests on government procurement decisions to keep out the icky godbotherers….
When pron is outlawed only outlaws will have pron….
Okay, whatever.
I knew there was a reason I hung around here!